Sewing thimble

ABSTRACT

A sewing thimble is provided with an inwardly formed dome on the closed end and a small annular inturned rim or flange. The rim prevents a needle from slipping out when applying pressure and the dome permits a person having a relatively long finger-nail to use the thimble without breaking their nail.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,722,763

Heinz 1 Mar. 27, 1973 1 1 SEWING THIMBLE 1,806,730 5 1931 Alland ..223 101 Inventor: i Bowness 2,070,078 2/1937 GllZCfl ..223/101 N.W., Calgary 42, Alberta, Canada Primary Examiner-James R. Boler [22] F11ed: Apr. 22, 1971 Appl. No.: 136,330

Assistant ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich Attorney-Kent & Ade

ABSTRACT 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures SEWING TIIIMBLE This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sewing thimbles, the principal object and essence of the invention being to provide a device of the character herewithin described which contains means on the thimble to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the needle eye and when pressure is applied upon the needle by the thimble.

Conventional thimbles are usually convexedly dome shaped on the upper end and rely upon the plurality of dimples formed in the surface to engage the eye end and to prevent slippage.

These small dimples rapidly become either filled with dirt or grime or else the dimples are not deep enough to adequately engage the eye end of needles when considerable pressure is applied in order to force them through the fabric being sewn.

Attempts have been made to form depressions in the closed end within which the eye end of the needle may be engaged and these are adequate when pressure is applied to the needle so that the axis of the thimble is substantially in alignment with the axis of the needle.

However, under many circumstances during sewing, the user often engages the needle with the thimble end with the axis of the thimble at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the needle with the subsequent disengagement of the needle when pressure is applied.

I have overcome this disadvantage by providing an overhanging lip around the closed end of the thimble surrounding the depression so that even if the needle eye end does slip, it immediately engages the lip and disengagement is prevented.

With the considerations and inventive objects herein set forth in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disciosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, herein exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying Figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of my improved thimble.

FIG. 2 is a section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper end of the needle showing the invention incorporated therein.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character illustrates a conventional thimble body portion which is frusto conical in configuration and open at the lower or wider end 11 for engagement over the finger of the user and is provided with an outer surface 12 within which are impressed conventional dimples 13.

The closed upper or narrower end 14 of the thimble is formed with a concave-convex depression or end wall 15 and the perimetrical edge 16 surrounding the depression is provided with an annular overhanging lip or flange 17 which defines an annular groove or channel 18 within which the eye end ofa needle may engage if it slips sideways from the depression 15. This depression forms a downwardl depressed or inverted dome.

This means that the t irnble can be used upon a needle with the needle lying at a substantial angle to the Iongitudinal axis of the thimble as shown in FIG. 2 and without the needle slipping from the thimble. Reference character 19 illustrates a needle in this position.

I also provide a small piece of rubber or the like 21 secured to the side of the thimble adjacent the open end 11 by adhesive or similar means through which a needle maybe engaged for storage purposes.

Another advantage flowing from the concavo-convex end formed in the closed end of the thimble is the fact that if the wearer has a relatively long finger-nail it readily slides to one side of the inner surface of the domed portion so that the flesh of the finger tip actually engages the domed portion so that pressure can be applied without danger of breaking the finger nail.

The junction between the concave-convex end and the wall .of the body 10 defines an annular finger nail engaging recess 20.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A sewing thimble comprising a frusto-conical hollow body having an open finger-receiving major end and a closed minor end, said minor end having an end wall with a concave outer surface and a convex inner surface, said end wall lying in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said body and the convex inner surface of the end wall forming an internal fingernail receiving 

1. A sewing thimble comprising a frusto-conical hollow body having an open finger-receiving major end and a closed minor end, said minor end having an end wall with a concave outer surface and a convex inner surface, said end wall lying in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said body and the convex inner surface of the end wall forming an internal fingernail receiving recess continuously around the junction of the end wall with the body, said end wall being spaced axially inwardly from the end extremity of said closed minor end, and an inturned annular flange provided at the end extremity of the body overlying and defining with the end wall on annular groove for retaining a needle in engagement with the concave outer surface of the end wall. 